Riverhounds strike early, add to conference lead with win over Tampa Bay

After the Pittsburgh Riverhounds fell behind early several times in the last few weeks, Albert Dikwa said the team talked about having a fast start Saturday night.

Dikwa played a big part in putting that plan into action by scoring a goal in the third minute.

The Hounds saw the game out from there, limiting a potent Tampa Bay Rowdies team to one shot on target and increased their lead at the top of the table with a 1-0 win at Highmark Stadium.

The Hounds (12-4-8) have a five-point lead in the Eastern Conference over Charleston. Tampa (11-6-5) is six points back.

“The last five games, the start hasn’t been good, and that’s something we needed to fix,” Dikwa said. “We did that today, but something we can control is to keep attacking because I feel like after we score, we sit back a little bit. That’s something we have to improve.”

Dikwa’s goal was set up by a one-touch pass off an interception by Arturo Ordonez.

Ordonez wisely kicked the ball toward the box to Tola Showunmi, who dragged both defenders to him before passing it off to Dikwa for a tap-in.

It was Dikwa’s 11th goal of the season, which ties him for third most in the league.

“It just about the communication,” Dikwa said of the goal. “We have been training together for a long time. I always tell Tola that we have to be moving inside the box. He made a good run. I waited for his movement and went to the opposite side. He gave me a good pass, and I just tried to hit the target. Luckily, I found the goal.”

The goal was the only shot on target, but the Hounds were able to equally neutralize Tampa, which has the fifth most goals in the USL Championship.

Hounds coach Bob Lilley was pleased with the result, but would’ve liked his group to push for a second goal and attack more. That is a facet he said needs improvement as they start to push toward the playoffs with 10 regular season games remaining.

The Hounds were strong defensively throughout and closed the game out by not allowing anything dangerous from Tampa in the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time. It was a return to form from earlier in July where they posted four shutouts in a row. The last three games, they yielded eight goals.

“We were a little bit more organized tonight with two (forwards) up front,” Lilley said. “The forwards worked hard. Our midfield grouping is working hard, and our wing backs are working hard. We’re trying to get pressure higher up the pitch when we can. It’s not always easy. When you do that, a lot of teams will start going direct on you. Then you have to press, pick up second balls, and I thought we did a really good job with that.

“Some of our success against Columbus Crew (in the U.S. Open Cup) was because we didn’t let them park and make 1,000 passes in and around our penalty box. I think we get in trouble when we sit back and let the other team dictate. Anything (Tampa) wanted to do, they had to do at a quicker tempo and that led to some mistakes.”

The Hounds host last-place Hartford Athletic next Saturday.